Hong Kong emerges as Asia’s wine drinking capital and trade hub

The latest ISWR survey shows China, with Hong Kong consumption included, now among the world’s top five wine markets

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong has emerged asAsia’s wine drinking capital as well as regional hub for the trade, according to a new survey for VINEXPO Asia-Pacific 2012, which is set to break records on return to Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from 29 to 31 May 2012.

The annual survey conducted for VINEXPO by The IWSR (International Wine and Spirit Research) found Hong Kong’s average adult consumption of five litres a year is the highest in Asia – more than twice the average in Japan and Singapore, and four times the level in mainland China.

Last year alone,Hong Kong’s wine consumption increased by almost 7%, reaching 3.25 million 9-litre cases – or 39 million bottles. Consumption doubled from 2006-2010.

French wine is most popular, accounting for 28% of sales, ahead ofAustralia(20%) and theUnited States(11%).

Hong Kong’s taste for sparkling wine and champagne is even more cause for celebration – consuming twice as much ‘bubbly’ as the rest of Asia combined!

Since scrapping import duty on wine, Hong Kong is also firmly established as regional hub to the boomingChina/ Asian market. Latest wine import-export figures revealed in the survey, for 2010, showHong Kongre-exported two million of the five 5 million 9-litre cases imported – meaning 40% of wine is shipped onwards.

The survey also found thatChina, with Hong Kong consumption included, has joined the world’s top five wine markets – soaring ahead of theUK